Defrosting attachment for mechanical refrigerators



F. O. RIEK Feb, 23, 39 33.

DEFROSTING ATTACHMENT FOR MECHANICAL REERIGERATORS 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1950 x k EOPas'' 0.151616 2 m Feb 28 1933. E Q E 1,899,724

DEFROSTING ATTACHMENT FOR MECHANICAL REFRIGERATORS Filed June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT; oFnca IOBIS'J! 0. 01' ER, WISCONSIN Dnnfima TI-Am I03 MECHANICAL mBIGmTORS Application fled June 16, 1930. Serial No. 481,444. I

This invention relates to an attachment for mechanical refri raters whereby water produced by defrosting operations can be taken care of without interfering with thecircu- 5 lation of cold air and without the loss of space which would otherwise be valuable for storage of foods.

It is the usual practice to support beneath a refrigerating unit a pan of sufliclent capacity to hold all of the water produced by defrosting. This pan has been evel to prevent overflow and has been of such area as to extend beyond the faces of the unit. Not only has it occupied considerable space but the walls thereof have formed baflies WlllCh have deflected the cold air upwardly and seriously interfered with the circulation.

It is an object of the present invention to dispense with the usual drip pan beneath the unit and to substitute therefor a water deflector which will not interfere seriously with the circulation of cold air and will direct the water backwardly to a deep container occupying a relatively small horizon- 85 tal area, but which is of ample capacity.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the 80 details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without de- 85 parting from the spirit of the invention. In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section showing a refrigerator equipped with the present improvements.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33, Figure 1.

Figu're iisa perspective view of the deflecting plate.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a refrigerator casing in which supported a refrigerating unit 2. At one side 0 thisunit there is mounted a .plate 3 to which is secured a flange 4 provided along onev side of a deflector 5. This demetal, is inclined downwardl away from the plate 3 and is also incline downwardly and rearwardly. That edge portion of the plate 5 which is substantially parallel with the flange 4 forms a gutter 6 which is inclined downwardly and rearwardly andis spaced at its back end from the back of the casing. Plate 5 and its gutter is located beneath the unit 2 and extends a short distance beyond each face thereof. Thus any water resulting from defrosting, will drip onto plate 5 and be directed thereby to the gutter 6 and thence rearwardly.

A receptacle 7 is removably mounted in p the back portion of casingll. t is so sha d as to occupy a very small orizontal area, ut it is of such height as to extend close to the back end of the gutter 6. The capacity of this container is suflicient to hold all water produced by defrosting after normal time 5 intervals.

It will be understood that plate 5 can be located so close to the bottom of unit 2 as to occupy little if anyof the space which might be used for the storage of food. The proportions of container 7 are also suchas to but slightly interfere with storage of food. Furthermore, by inclining plate 5 laterally and rearwardly and dispensing with a receptacle where the plate is located, the downwardly flowing cold air will move freely over and downwardly pastthe plate and w11l not be trapped as where a deep water receptacle is supported at this oint.

As shown in the rawings the plate 5 can be reinforced by a front flange 8 which may or may not extend above the top surface of the plate.

What is claimed is:

The combination with the casing and unit 95 of a mechanical refrigerator, of a relatively deep water receptacle removably mounted in the casing and covering a small horizon tal area which is smaller than the height of the receptacle, and a laterally and rearward- 1y inclined deflecting member below the ent1re area occupied by the unit for delivering water into the container, said member having a gutter along its lower edge, an attach- 6 ing flange at its opposite edge secured to a wall of the casing, and an upstanding retaining flange between the gutter and the attaching flan e, said member being spaced at' three sides mm the walls of the casing to 10 provide air passages, the gutter being positioned to drain into the receptacle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as .my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

FOREST 0. RIEK. 15 

